There were a couple of folks yesterday who expressed dismay over my intention to write in a candidate for U.S. President. I just got back from the polls, and without saying who I voted for I will explain why I chose to write in. Both major parties disgust me. I believe they are nothing but big machines that are more intent on gaining and maintaining power than upon the true betterment of our nation. In my opinion, John McCain and Hillary Clinton (back during the primaries) are the two most egregious examples of the power hungry vs. public service mindset and there is no way on God's green Earth I'd ever vote for either one of them. I believe Barack Obama rises above the power hungry mindset to a degree but it bothers me that he spent as much time as he did campaigning as early on as he did when he should have been focusing on his duties as a legislator. I also have some differences of opinion with him which I will not go into here.
I cast my vote for an individual who is a member of one of the major political parties but who I believe is capable of independent thought rather than merely being a party puppet. This individual has been willing to speak the truth when the party has not wanted to hear it. This person also has stated a desire to see the Constitution trampling expansion of executive power we've endured during the last administration reversed. I believe what this person says because when I look at his/her record I see consistency not flip-flopping and hypocrisy.
Does this person have a snowball's chance in hell of being elected? No. So why "waste my vote?" I chose to write in because it's a way to formally register my opinion. It is my right. I have heard a great number of people express their revulsion over politics as usual during this campaign. We hear all sorts of blather about "mavericks" and "change." If enough people vote either for a third party candidate or write in a serious choice (not Pat Paulsen, not Pedro for Prez) then the numbers of disgruntled voters may require the 2 major parties to actually pay attention to those of us who are sick of the way it is. I already see evidence of this in small ways. The local League of Women Voters produces a voters guide for every election. In elections past the only candidates profiled were Democrats and Republicans. This time around they included Independents, Libertarians, and Constitutionalists. It's a small change, but it's a start.
I want a real change. I want intelligent leaders who can think for themselves but work cooperatively. I want someone who speaks truth clearly. I want the Democrats and Republicans to know I am sick of them both. My write-in vote is an expression of that.
I found it both interesting and encouraging to hear the two voters in front of me asking for instructions on how to do a write-in vote as well. I don't know who they wrote in or for what office but it was good to know I was not alone.
Now if you are a U.S citizen and haven't voted yet, get out there and vote your conscience whether it's for the Republican, the Democrat, the Libertarian, the Constitutionalist, the Green Party, an Independent, or otherwise. To the rest of the world, I hope we can repair some of the damage that has been done during the last 8 years with whoever leads our new administration.
31 comments:
Yahtzee!
I've voted third party in two presidential races in the past for the very same reasons you mention here. John Anderson got my vote in 1980 when the only "real" choices were Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Anderson managed to garner 6% of the popular vote, but not enough in any one place to carry a state. Yes, it was a protest vote, but I had a cool t-shirt made that I wore for the next four years that said "Don't Blame Me. I Voted for Anderson!" History may have shown those to be prophetic words indeed.
In 1992 I cast my lot with Ross Perot, who fared even better than Anderson in the popular vote, but still didn't have a real shot at the White House. He was, however , the most viable third party candidate of my lifetime -- possibly ever. And his campaign effectively won the election for Bill Clinton by splitting the Republican vote. History I think showed that as not a bad trade-off. Philandering aside, the Clinton administration glows when compared to its successor.
This time around, I have no problem saying I took a more mainstream route and voted for That One. Partly because The Other One frightens the crap out of me, but mainly because I truly believe that with a cooperative Congress, Obama can -- and will -- do the things he says he will. We probably have a few differences of opinion, but everything I know about the man gives me a good vibe.
All that said, it's less important that you voted for this or that candidate than it is that you made yourself heard. Even if it's only in a small way, you voted your conscience and that's what counts. So good on ya.
Well this is what is being termed here as the mother of all elections as it may create histrionics.
Change is imminent. Parties are usually stereotyped with their constantly unchanged agendas & leftist or rightist leanings. I feel that the campaign for a 'change' might just hit the nail on the head. That is what America needs, that is what the world needs.
I will defend Obama's early campaign as one 'evil necessity' that required him to come into limelight & also 'prove' certain points about himself ( seeing that he is quite a novice in the arena as compared to his opponents) He had a lot of linen to wash ;chain smoking, name taboo, color taboo & also reverse the Bradley effect ( although Obama optimists discount the theory, pointing out that America has moved on since Bradley lost; notably in electing two black governors in Virginia & Massachusetts, and a black mayor in New York, & also saying that Obama would not be the party nominee if the Effect still applied.Yet this is not wholly convincing, because the black electoral victors all won by narrow margins than their polls had suggested, meaning that the Bradley Effect still existed, even though in a diluted form.
Don't even *wish* for a third or a fourth party or Independent candidates. We in India, who have ( supposedly) the largest democracy suffer from the multi- party disease & I know what an anathema that is. It would enable & achieve nothing except serve as something that 'divides' the vote and it may result into none of the Party gaining a working majority. This will only expedite a move called 'horse trading' , where the smaller parties or the independent candidates who win , will bargain & offer an outside support to the majority party who just misses by a few seats in return for something atrocious. Such 'supporting' parties become the Sword of Damocles hanging on the head of the ruling party, threatening to withdraw support if their outrageous demands ( for the repercussions of which only the ruling party will be held responsible) are not met by the ruling party. This hampers the effective working of the ruling party & thereby Progress.
The 'trick' is that when you are undecided on something, you must always look at the larger picture. The Republicans have always been less difficult & in fact been very generous towards India. Bush Administration has done what no other did for India's growth. Even the Impossible Nuclear deal was signed in his regime. Yet Indians want to support Obama for the betterment of the World situation in general, the larger screw up involving economy & the wars.
So even we want Change because the ripple effect is felt worldwide!
I just hope & pray that whatever is best for the world happens in a few hours from now!
Awww Lime, did you vote for ME??? I told you I didn't want to be president!
Okay, but if I become Prez, you can only ride in Air Force One every other week... we don't want to overdo that. 'K?
No one has the right to be dismayed... YOU VOTED!
As I said yesterday, you voted, and that's the most important thing!
HUGS...
Yay... for the power of choice!
I just will say this, MONA is a genius.
The odds are that your vote will not matter unfortunately.
I havent voted yet, left coast and all. Look out world, here comes OBAMA in the mother of all elections which will be world changing!
Polytainment...I just saw Sarah with low cut faded JEANS on while campaigning.....just wrong! Sarah, you're not fooling us with the dressing down when you spend $150 on a pair of jeans.
Wow! Our choice is simple in the next election and it is always the same...do we vote for the Tories, who have waited a long time and finally found a leader who is young and vital and says the right things, or do we vote in the same band of idealiological deadwoods who have driven us into the ground, with a Premier who took us out of the gold standard when he was Chancellor and who now looks slick as he promises to get us out of the mess that he did a lot to get us in.
You only have to worry about voting in a young black untried but exciting Candidate who just might spur us all on to great things, or an aged white guy who was a POW hero [cheers please] with a running mate who makes Cruella de Ville look like Mary Poppins.
Wow, I say, again.
I'd love it if the two parties were forced to disband and people would have to actually look at the issues, rather than vote the party line.
I'd also love it if every state had their primary on the same day. It infuriates me every year that by the time my state gets the chance to vote, it's all over anyway.
I tried to explain 'third party' yesterday. Needless to say the 'logical argument' disappears in a cycle of mis-understanding.
Cheers
I agree with voting your conscience. If everybody that wanted to vote outside of the big 2 did and stopped thinking "my vote will be wasted," I bet we would be surprised.
I, too, am a writer-in'r. It's my vote..my voice...and my voice wants to be heard that the major parties are intellectually and morally bankrupt...but as we all know money talks...and it's the candidtate that raises/spends the most that gets the most attention...I could not look myself in the mirror if I cast my lot with Gramps or Mortimer just because they were the major party candidates...BAAAAA....BAAAAAA
I applaud your decision to write in your choice.
I think that an effective third party has got to set it's roots at the local level in order to gain any momentum and make a real difference. There are enough people in the middle to make a difference and go against the grain.
This country needs to make a return to "Government of the people, for the people, and by the people." That's something we have only read about in our lifetimes.
I believe that everone's vote matters. As you said, it is our right to vote. It is important that nobody is discounted. I voted by absentee ballot - and it felt great.
Now I want to know who it is you voted for...
Was it Mr. Bean?
That is your right! I am glad that you voted!
a knowledgable vote is the best vote you can place. :)
I completely agree with you and also wrote in :)
We the People have the power to demand a better choice!
Our problem lies in the fact that we have a "winner-take-all" system which leads to a two-party democracy.
If we had proportional representation, you'd see many more parties in Congress which theoretically would lead to legislation that is more responsive to citizens' needs.
It'll never happen, but one can dream.
No vote is ever wasted unless it isn't cast.
Politics, sex, religion and in the case of Buffalodick...FOOD...we all have our opinions. But, as long as we still can chose that's what's important. I Voted today and it was "A Good thing"...martha signing out! ;)
I take comfort from the fact that, a century-and-a-half ago, the Republican party was a 'third party', formed from the ashes of the old Whig party, when it couldn't get itself together over the slavery question. And within six years of their beginning, they had gotten a president elected. I don't know if such a 'tipping point' in the political alignment is upon us, or not; but I can hope. . .
Yes I voted...And I still get chills every time I do...G
All that matters is you voted Lime. With votes like you did hopefully someday this two party lock will let all the players play. Hopefully the Democrats and Republicans learn something from the dissatisfied voters. Probably not however.
I spent a long time today, staring the choices, which didn't feel like choices. I've been thinking of voting Socialist or Green. It was all a tough decision.
My guess is that you voted for Wellstone beyond the grave. If not, then Russ Feingold.
Yes, I realize this isn't at all about me figuring out who you voted for. I just know who my heroes are.
New Slogan!
YES WE CAN!
I wanted to write in Elmer Fudd "that'ssss all folks!" I couldn't agree with you more.
I think in the end this election will be positive for the country no matter what Obama and the Democrats do. With the financial crisis and the war, our country could have become more disengaged and polarized. Now, I feel like there is new energy all around. It is our responsibility as citizens to use that energy for good and to hold our government officials accountable. Rock on, U.S.A!
Mona hit the button, I suppose we have to wait and see/hope...
Both major parties disgust me. I believe they are nothing but big machines that are more intent on gaining and maintaining power than upon the true betterment of our nation.
Agreed big time. Can't stand either.
"The only wasted vote is the one not cast."
-Camille Paglia
I agree with Camille Paglia on this one.
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